Singapore to jail software pirates

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Singapore will next year introduce jail terms and stiff fines
for people who break software and internet copyright laws, the
government said on Tuesday.

People found to be illegally using software or downloading off
the internet will face a maximum six months in jail and a fine of
20,000 Singapore dollars ($A16,395) for their first offence,
according to ammendments to the Copyright Act introduced into
parliament.

Repeat offenders face three years in jail and a fine of 50,000
Singapore dollars.

The laws specifically refer to people who break the law "to
obtain a commercial advantage" or infringe significantly, meaning
individuals who download a limited number of songs or movies off
the internet for personal use may be exempt.

A spokeswoman for the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
said the courts would be left to interpret the definition of
"significant".

Although the spokeswoman stressed the courts would set the
precedent, she said people who downloaded one song or movie were
unlikely to be prosecuted but "1000 could be pushing it".

She said parliament was likely to pass the ammendents by the
middle of the next month, with the new laws due to take effect from
January 1 next year.

The tougher laws are part of Singapore's commitments to its free
trade agreement signed with the United States that came into effect
this year.

Previously people who breached software and internet copyright
laws in Singapore were only subject to civil action.

Tougher penalties for the illegal manufacturing, sale and
distribution of software remain unaffacted by the new laws.